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States vs. the Federal Government: Marijuana Legalization in the United States

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The marijuana policy landscape is changing dramatically. Eight states and Washington DC have legalized recreational marijuana and more than half of states allow medical marijuana. However, marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and it is unclear whether the new administration will continue the largely hands-off approach of the previous administration or try something else. There are many federal options between cracking down and legalization and the nation may end up with a much looser and more commercial system if the federal government continues to sit on the sidelines.

In this briefing, Beau Kilmer will provide an overview of recent changes in marijuana policies as well as options for the federal government. Specifically, he will discuss:

What is happening with marijuana legalization in the United States and how can action abroad inform policymakers here?

What options do the new Administration and Congress have for marijuana policy?

Full Briefing

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In this Call with the Experts, Beau Kilmer, codirector of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, discusses the controversy surrounding marijuana policy and highlights issues policymakers and voters should consider before making their decisions.

Marijuana legalization is a controversial and multifaceted issue that is now the subject of serious debate. Policy should not be viewed as a binary choice between prohibition and the for-profit commercial model seen in Colorado and Washington State.

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Researcher Spotlight

Codirector, RAND Drug Policy Research Center

Beau Kilmer is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, where he codirects the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, and serves as a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His research lies at the intersection of public health and public safety, with special emphasis on crime…

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